Jeff Garlin: Comedian's Journey to Lose Weight

Jeff Garlin

Born and raised in Chicago, Ill., comedian Jeff Garlin, co-star of the HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm," considers himself a food addict. "The enjoyment of food is minimal, not that ice cream doesn't taste good or macaroni and cheese isn't delicious, but you're doing it to, to push down feelings. That's really the reason why," Garlin, 47, said. "So, you can never get enough, it's just never enough."

Courtesy Jeff Garlin

Jeff Garlin

Born and raised in Chicago, Ill., comedian Jeff Garlin, co-star of the HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm," considers himself a food addict. "The enjoyment of food is minimal, not that ice cream doesn't taste good or macaroni and cheese isn't delicious, but you're doing it to, to push down feelings. That's really the reason why," Garlin, 47, said. "So, you can never get enough, it's just never enough."

Courtesy Jeff Garlin

Jeff Garlin

Garlin has had a problem with portion control since he was a child, and has written about it in a new memoir. Garlin told Elizabeth Vargas about his childhood relationship with food: "When I was growing up -- my mom's not going to like this, but this is what it was -- she would make us pasta, and then put the bowl on the table. We'd have our serving, our normal-sized serving, and then there's a bowl. So, just keep on piling it on and piling it on."

Courtesy Jeff Garlin

Jeff Garlin

Prom night, 1980 in Plantation, Fla. When asked if his addiction to food is a lack of willpower, Garlin states, "Almost everyone thinks it's will power, because I guess it's sort of been ingrained in us over the years that it's willpower, that it's, it's you, it's your weakness. And it's not a matter of weakness, it's not, has nothing to do with, weakness. It's an addiction, and it's a disease.

Courtesy Jeff Garlin

Jeff Garlin

The day after graduating from high school, Garlin went on to study filmmaking at the Miami University of Ohio where he began performing stand-up comedy.

Courtesy Jeff Garlin

Jeff Garlin

A Second City Theatre alumnus, Garlin has toured the country as a stand-up comedian. Here, he's pictured at a Second City show from the late 1980s at Miami University of Ohio. Actress and comedian Jane Lynch is pictured behind Garlin. <P>

Courtesy Jeff Garlin

Jeff Garlin

Garlin is a co-star and co-executive producer of the HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm" starring "Seinfeld" creator Larry David. Garlin portrays David's manager, Jeff Greene. The series has won a Golden Globe award for best comedy, the Danny Thomas producer of the year award from the Producers Guild of America, and the AFI comedy series of the year award.

Courtesy Jeff Garlin

Jeff Garlin

Garlin and his wife Marla have been married for 15 years. At age 37, Garlin suffered a stroke, while Marla was pregnant with their second child. Marla remembers, "It was really rough, that was a rough time for us."

Courtesy Jeff Garlin

Jeff Garlin

Turning over a new leaf, Garlin practices Pilates. "I don't believe in dieting, and I will never diet. I don't diet. I eat very healthy, and I exercise," he said. "I'm trying to be a person who lives healthily both emotionally and physically in the world."

ABC News

Jeff Garlin

Garlin has penned a memoir entitled, "My Footprint: Carrying the Weight of the World," about his journey to lose weight. The book will be available in stores Feb. 23.